Bianca, you are truly doing a marvellous job with Cooper's care! Really, elbows are difficult! I don't think his protective sleeve is really too big, I think "roomy" is good for around any joint that will need to move a bit. Know? Cooper looks so very loved and well-cared-for! Sending positive vibes for speedy healing!

The Dogleggs are to reduce pressure since pressure on the elbow from lying on hard surfaces is behind the hygroma.

Feli's came with a 4" square of memory foam, and instructions on how to make an opening in the middle of it to accommodate the sore area. The instruction is to take a round metal cookie cutter the size of the sore, heat it in a flame, and 'cookie cut' the hole in the memory foam. That way you get a donut shaped cushion for the sore. It worked beautifully when I did it. Just don't use that cookie cutter for edible cookies after heat-cutting memory foam with it!

To keep the hygroma from recurring, finding a bed that distributes point pressure is crucial. I try beds by pushing my elbow in them, that way I can feel how effective they are in cushioning the dog's elbows.

Memory foam is said to feel warm, though I don't have the problem with my own memory foam pad. Might depend on the quality of the memory foam. For Feli, instead of a memory foam dog bed (possibly not the best memory foam quality) I used a top quality 2" twin mattress pad and flipped it over so it'd be half size and 4". She liked that. High quality memory foam refers to both density of the foam (dense is good) and its heat retention (low is good).

As an alternative to memory foam, I saw this pad made of something called Celsion™ Talalay latex: http://www.inthecompanyofdogs.com/itemdy00.asp?ID=17,470&GEN1=Dog+Beds%2c+Blankets+%26+Mats&T1=D11262+CML+S&dispRow=0&srccode="Crate Pad provides superior pressure relief. Thanks to sophisticated, new-to-market technology, this patent-pending, body temperature-regulating Celsion™ Talalay latex pad provides the perfect balance of comfort and support, with up to 33% more pressure relief than memory foam. Helps keep your dog cool in summer and warm in winter and is hypoallergenic, breathable, and lightweight but exceptionally durable."